III.— BOTANY. 



Art. XXXYIIT. — Preliminary Notes on Mr. H. H. Travers^ Recent 



Collections of Plants from the Chatham Islands. 



By Baron Feed. von. Mueller, C.M.G., M.D., F.R.S., Hon. Mem. N.Z.I. 



[Read before the Wellington Philosophical Society, 20th July, 1872.]" 



During the last spring and summer the Chatham Islands were revisited by 

 Mr. H. H. Travers, with the view of exploring still further these islands for 

 zoological and phytological purposes. The plants collected have also on this 

 occasion been submitted to me for examination. But as the careful elabora- 

 tion of all the species — many of variable form — will require some time, I have 

 thought it advisable to offer meanwhile a few preliminary notes on these new 

 collections. The latter comprise the Dicotyledonece^ Monocotyledoneoe, and 

 Ferns brought this time by Mr. Travers, and they increase the 67 genera and 

 87 species obtained in 1864 to 123 genera and 183 species, bQ genera and 96 

 species being added. Accordingly the Dicotyledonece, known to belong to these 

 isles, comprise now 72 genera and 94 species ; the Monocotyledoneoe 34 genera 

 and 52 species; and the Filices and closely allied plants, 17 genera and 37 

 species. A few of the cotyledonous plants are evidently introduced ; yet^ after 

 deducting these, there still remain a comparatively large number of indigenous 

 species for so small an area, particularly if it is considered that no high 

 mountains exist in this group as in Lord Howe Island. 



The plants now brought by Mr. Travers still further prove the vegetation 

 of the Chatham Islands to be almost identical with that of New Zealand ; for 

 even the apparently few endemic plants are almost all closely allied to New 

 Zealand species. The total absence of Myrtacece and Pittosporece seems remark- 

 able. The Cordylines, so conspicuous in the vegetation of New Zealand, are 

 also absent; and many common plants of the latter and also of other countries, 

 for instance Adiantum cBthiopicum, have not yet been found. A few additions 

 to the phanerogamic flora may still be expected among insignificant water- 

 weeds, such as Lemna, or among the oceanic Monocotyledoneoe^ such as Zostera, 

 Cytnodocea, and Halophila, otherwise Mr. Travers' search seems to have 

 been almost exhaustive. The Mosses, Lichenastra, Lichens, Fungi, and 

 Algae, have been more extensively collected only during Mr. Travers' second 



